It's early in the morning and I'm already confused 😕

So I know that electrolytes are essential.
I know that's the main three are sodium potassium and chloride.

I know that if you are feeling overly thirsty or dehydrated that you should reach for electrolytes.

I know that eating salty /sodium- filled foods can leave you feeling thirsty, so how does that same salt/sodium in electrolyte drinks help with dehydration? 🤷🏾‍♀️

Chloride: isn't that a form if chlorine, a.k.a bleach ? 🤷🏾‍♀️

How are we drinking bleach water? I get that it's somehow in a different form but...

So chlorinated pool water is bad for hair and skin, making it dry and brittle, but good for drinking (in its 'cousin' form) 🚰? 🤷🏾‍♀️

I know that cucumber 🥒 helps with thirst/dehydration, I've tested it, but I don't enjoy them that much.

I also know that coconut 🥥 water is nature's Gatorade but I don't like that either, not without added sugar, which isn't helpful 😕

Bonus Question
Is there any electrolyte drink or electrolyte powder mix that someone can recommend that is super low on sodium? I do not believe I need added sodium in my diet.

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cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

Salt is an essential electrolyte. For some reason I don’t get enough from my diet, which is not sodium-restricted. Every time I get my bloodwork done (which has been every couple weeks for the past 6 months) my sodium level is below normal. And this is after taking extra salt and drinking a glass of water every single time before I go get treatments. I take extra salt at least 3 times a day. If I get low on sodium it affects my digestive system and I go get some more.

If you don’t get enough sodium it can cause problems such as weakness and low blood pressure.

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cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@iamnikki I don’t eat fast food and much fewer processed foods due to having a gluten-intolerance. So only gluten-free crackers, for example, and they are usually very inexpensive unless I can find some on clearance. Pretty rare for me to have any processed meats like bacon, hot dogs, smoked sausage or even beef or turkey bacon. I avoid MSG which is responsible for a lot of the sodium level in processed foods. If I don’t get enough sodium in the summer I’ll sweat too much and also lose the other electrolytes through sweat. Even so with all of this it seems I am eating a lot of salt from what I take in plain and chase with water. It doesn’t raise my sodium levels too much though and I guess that’s what’s important.

My sister went on a low-sodium diet one time for a couple months and her blood pressure got high. Probably because sodium is an essential electrolyte.

iamnikki · 31-35, F

@cherokeepatti that bit about Sister is really interesting. What kind of meats do you eat?

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@iamnikki chicken, beef, clean fish like cod, salmon, canned kippers (no bottom-feeder fish like catfish and others) and occasionally turkey and lamb. I like venison, elk and bison and would have it often if I could find it more often. …also have eggs for protein. I don’t eat pork or shellfish at all. I get hungry for smoked turkey or beef sausage but it has nitrites in it and want to avoid that. I can find beef or turkey bacon sometimes at the health food store that has no nitrites or MSG in it but it’s expensive. I get hungry for bison hot dogs but the company that was selling them sold out to someone else and they don’t sell bison dogs…and get hungry for smoked sausage but it’s loaded with nitrites too. Haven’t had deli lunchmeat in a long time either.

SammyJo · 51-55, F

Essentially salt in the form of electrolytes helps RETAIN fluid in the body....dehydration, for athletes anyways, they say dropping just 2-3% of the body's fluid can impact performance, co-ordination and cognitive impairment...

Potassium, too low or too high, can lead to heart attacks...

That's all I know...

SJD xx

Nightwings · 31-35, F

This sounds like something you should ask your doctor about, in addition to asking here.

iamnikki · 31-35, F

@Nightwings sure thing, it's literally what I woke up thinking about.

icedsky · 51-55, M

I use one called Sqwincher 0 sugar. Assorted flavors. It is relatively low on sodium chloride. More on potassium Salts but still a salt.
Was just reading about one of the best rehydration and electrolytes things we can drink is milk.

iamnikki · 31-35, F

@icedsky I'm lactose intolerant 🥴 thanks for the other recommendation

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